The town council at the centre of a row over the St George’s flag last night voted to buy one.

The decision by Radstock Town Council not to buy the English national flag at a meeting earlier this month sparked a protest at the weekend, and national media headlines.

The town council has insisted that its decision was unconnected with comments made at that meeting by politician Councillor Eleanor Jackson, who expressed concern that Muslims could be offended by the flying of the English flag.

Last night, its members - including Ms Jackson - voted unanimously to buy a St George’s flag and to display it on “appropriate occasions.”

Today, council chair Councillor Lesley Mansell said the original decision - to buy only the Union flag to be flown from the civic flagpole, which needs repairing - had been prompted by practical concerns about staffing and funding.

She insisted: “The general comment made by Cllr Jackson, as we moved to the vote, had no impact on the decision we took.”

On Saturday, local people were joined by people from around the country for a protest over the original decision.

By that time, the town council had teamed up with neighbouring Westfield Parish Council to borrow its flag and get it put up the flagpole, despite the mechanism being faulty, the previous night.

Ms Mansell said that Ms Jackson - who has been unavailable for comment - had apologised for her comments at last night’s meeting.

The idea that Muslims might find the English flag offensive was roundly dismissed by the Muslim Council of Britain.

Among the critics of the town council’s earlier decision had been Communities Secretary Eric Pickles.

This week, Labour town councillor Peter Sas wrote to Mr Pickles inviting him to see the town for himself, and hitting back at some “ill-informed” criticism.

Mr Sas, who has himself criticised Ms Jackson’s comments, told the minister: “What is clear about the recent furore over the flag is that Radstock Town Council, and one councillor in particular, has suffered from an error of judgement. This is regrettable but the council has done its best to remedy the situation. We are a proud and patriotic community that faces many challenges caused by the austerity measures imposed by your government.”